Hyperemesis Gravidarum Pregnancies and Birth Center Twin Birth

After a long pregnancy battling severe hyperemesis gravidarum, Hannah gave birth to her first son in a birth center at nearly 41 weeks. Ten months later, she became pregnant again, this time with a set of twins! Despite living in a state that considers twins to be a “high-risk” pregnancy, they were able to work with an OBGYN and midwife team to deliver their babies out-of-hospital. She carried her twins for 38+5 weeks until her water broke and they shot out of her body in just 1.5 hours! Hannah struggled with breastfeeding all of her children, due to tongue-ties and tight jaws. She was forced to exclusively pump with her son, but was able to breastfeed her twins successfully after a difficult 3 month journey working with a lactation consultant and occupational therapist.

Hannah Mockary Bio

Hannah is 26 years old and lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. She married her high school sweetheart right after graduating from college in 2012 and became pregnant with her first child in 2015. Her health and lifestyle drastically changed after having hyperemesis gravidarum during and after both pregnancies. Her son was born in a birth center in July of 2016. Hannah became pregnant with her twin daughters in 2017 and was also able to deliver them out-of-hospital. While chasing after her 3 kids under 2, Hannah stays active in the community by serving at her local church and part-time work with online marketing. @hannahmockary on Instagram

Zahler Prenatal Vitamins

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Lindsey Bliss shares her six births in four stories: a birth center birth with Mia (now 11); a vaginal twin birth in the hospital with surprise-twins, Birdie & Hazel (now 8); another surprise set of twins, Luke & Rocco (now 5.5) who were born at home; and finally, baby Olympia (1) who was also born via a planned homebirth. I love Lindsey’s down-to-earth approach to birth, postpartum, and parenting!

Lindsey Bliss Bio

Lindsey Bliss is the co-director of Carriage House Birth, an experienced birth doula, and the mother of seven. Lindsey is considered to be a multiples expert after giving birth to and parenting two consecutive sets of twins. Lindsey takes on her role as a birth doula and childbirth educator with serious passion and commitment. Her mission is to hold space for expectant families through education and informed decision making. Being prepared, and knowing what options are available increases the likelihood of an amazing birth. Lindsey facilitates that process, giving people the tools and inspiration to empower themselves. Her unwavering support and gentle guidance have benefited over two hundred families. Lindsey supports first time parents, multiparas, single parents, LGBT families, twins births, medicated and non medicated vaginal births, cesarean births, and VBACs.

Connect with her on Instagram at @doulabliss and @carriagehousebirth

Evenflo

Today’s episode is sponsored by Evenflo. Evenflo recently released the Pivot Xpand single to double stroller travel system that easily slides to convert from single to double without any tools needed. It has 22 different configurations accommodating one or two riders that can sit at various heights, reclines and be either forward or parent facing. I love that it comes WITH the infant carseat that clicks directly into the frame and a toddler seat that can recline to cradle infants as well. It also has a great extra large storage basket and easy fold!

Triplets Birth Story with Postpartum Hemorrhage

Desiree delivered her triplets at 34 weeks 1 day, her goal date. Her babies were all about 5 pounds each. Unfortunately, Desiree had some complications after her delivery. She hemorrhaged and needed blood transfusions. Her delivery was certainly not what she anticipated, but she is thankful she and her babies were safe.

Desiree Fortin Bio

Desiree is a Mom of almost 3 year old triplets. She is a Mommy Blogger and loves to share all things Motherhood, the good and the hard. On her blog she shares her infertility struggles, triplet pregnancy and delivery, and is incredibly vulnerable in sharing her postpartum depression and anxiety journey. Connect with her at theperfectmomblog.com or on Instagram @thefortintrio.

Earth Mama Organics

Today’s episode is sponsored by Earth Mama Organics. From the positive test to the big push, from the first latch to the thousandth diaper, Earth Mama makes effective organic and natural herbal products for the whole journey of motherhood including pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and baby care. They’ve been safely nurturing mamas this way since 2002 — and they wouldn’t do it any other way. At the end of today’s episode I’ll talk to Natalie about why she loves Earth mama products. Here is the Periodic Tea recipe I mentioned in today’s episode!

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month we are sharing this beautiful story again.

Same-sex couple Mariel and Viviana knew they always wanted a baby; so, a year into their marriage they began trying to conceive by the traditional route of IUI’s with frozen sperm via a sperm bank. After nearly a dozen failed tries, they switched gears to a known-donor and were quickly pregnant. Early on in Viviana’s pregnancy she began having complications, and on the same day of her anatomy scan at 20 weeks and 6 days, Viviana’s water bag prolapsed and broke. Tune in to hear the details of their devastating infant loss due to incompetent cervix and the redemption story of their boy/girl rainbow babies conceived within 7 days of each other and born only three days apart. Follow their journey on Instagram at @moderndaytwins.

Viviana Bio

I don’t have a hometown, but if I had to claim one, it would be Dallas, TX. I met Mariel in college at UNT and quickly fell in love. A few years into our dating, and after moving to Austin, she asked me to marry her; so, we had a ceremony in TX and made it legal in NYC when I was 29 and she was 22. I’ve always wanted to be a mother and never could have guessed the road to realizing it would be so hard. Now the Mama to my “modern day twins” and my little angel baby in heaven, I’m at peace. My loss and the birth world has been truly inspirational to me so I share as much as I can on social media and hope to give back somehow. Connect with me on Instagram at @vivianarchy.

Mariel Bio

I grew up in Brownsville, TX, which is on the Texas/Mexico border and never lived anywhere else until I left for college where I met Viviana and instantly fell in love. Up until meeting her, my life was pretty vanilla: I had a set goal, and was meeting every expectation my very traditional Mexican family set out for me. Then, all of a sudden, I threw all of that out of the window and started taking risks I’d never imagine were possible – I graduated college in three years and moved to the most expensive city in Texas without a job just so I could finally live passionately. It’s been a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs, but despite the uncertainties, we’ve always managed to land on our feet and have been blessed beyond measure. I love to tell our story to anybody that will listen so that people see that there is hope so long as you don’t give up and are willing to take as many detours as life throws your way. Connect with me on Instagram at @cafesitamami.

Aeroflow Breastpumps

Want to learn how to get a free breast pump through insurance? Aeroflow Breastpumps has helped thousands of new and expecting moms find the perfect pump for her lifestyle. They offer all major pump brands including Medela, Spectra, and Lansinoh. And the best part, they take care of everything – from getting all required paperwork and dealing with your insurance company to explaining your options and getting your free pump shipped straight to your door. All you have to go to the Aeroflow Breastpumps website and fill out their free and easy Qualify Through Insurance form. Be sure to go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/birthhour so they will know I sent you!

IUI Fertility Treatment & Surprise Triplets

Although Jody and Jeremy went through fertility treatment (IUI – intrauterine insemination,) they were told their chances of the procedure’s success was less than 20% due to small follicle size. Along with their physician, they decided to proceed anyways. After positive pregnancy tests and blood tests, it was confirmed the procedure was a success!

Jody experienced a significant amount of bleeding. After about 8 weeks, she and her husband went in for an early ultrasound to see if there was a reason for the bleeding. The doctor confirmed that triplets were the reason. Jody had a fairly insignificant pregnancy by triplet standards. No official bed rest or major medical issues.

Premature Labor and Eclampsia

At 32 weeks and 6 days, Jody went into labor. Medication helped stop the contractions, and 48 hours of steroids helped develop the lungs of the babies. Jody’s high blood pressure kept her in the antenatal unit of the hospital. Once her blood pressure was under control, she was set to go home. Listening to her gut feeling, she asked for one more night to be monitored.

That evening Jody went into labor and full eclampsia. Luckily she was right where she needed to be. An emergency cesarean section was performed and Jody and Jeremy welcomed three beautiful babies to their family (33weeks 4days gestation).

NICU Stay with Triplets

The NICU stay proved to be a challenge, with emotional and physical (for the babies) tribulations. The newborns needed to have 5 days in a row without a cardiac or oxygen related ‘event’. After 22 days of ups and downs the Wilson family was together once again.

Breastfeeding Triplets and Postpartum Depression

Exclusively pumping/breast feeding for triplets would prove to be a full time job in itself for Jody. The children had to have the breast milk supplemented to a higher caloric value to help with growth. Trying to find any type of balance in their home life was a struggle. Jody struggled with postpartum depression and sought medical help after trying to deal with it alone. Jody never really had a birth plan in mind prior to finding out she was pregnant—in the end the triplets made the plan for her.

Jody Wilson Bio

Jody is 36 years old and lives in Washington state with her husband, Jeremy, their goldendoodle, Opie(5), and their triplets: Audrey(4), Oliver(4), and Everett(4). Jeremy works from home part time and travels part time. Jody stays at home with the children and also works as a substitute group fitness instructor. Now that the kids have started preschool, Jody is looking forward to finishing the baby books and a few other projects that have taken a back seat. If you have any questions or just need a fellow triplet-mom to lend a listening ear, feel free to connect with her on Facebook, email or Instagram. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram or via email at jkrunsforfun@gmail.com.

CollegeBacker

This episode is sponsored by CollegeBacker. CollegeBacker is the easiest way to save for college with help from family & friends. In just 5 minutes, you can open a tax-advantaged 529 Plan, and then invite family & friends to contribute – even before your child is born!

Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/TheBirthHour and receive a $10 match when you start saving for your child, or when you send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.

Birth Center Birth

When Lisa and her husband, Johnny found out they were expecting their first child, she knew she wanted to have an unmedicated birth in a birthing center. After a pretty uneventful pregnancy, she was overjoyed to have the labor of her dreams. Lisa was thrilled to catch their daughter and the new parents were happily sent home after a brief stay at the center.

Unmedicated Hospital Twin Birth

Just shy of a year later, Lisa and Johnny found out they were expecting again and they knew they’d have baby #2 at the birthing center. But, as fate would have it, Lisa became “high risk” when they learned that twins were in their future. Unable to deliver at a birthing center and living in a state were homebirths were illegal, Lisa had to face one of her biggest fears: giving birth in a hospital. The couple was faced with opposition from the medical staff and although there were some twists and turns along the way, she succeeded in having two more unmedicated births!

Lisa Jay Bio

Lisa lives in North Carolina with her husband, Johnny and their three littles: Jupiter, Zephyr and Capell. She works in finance at an eLearning company. Lisa is passionate about her family, birth, photography and travel. You can connect with her on Instagram @lisaluonoceanave.

Resources

Babylist

This episode is sponsored by Babylist. Babylist believes that you should be able to get exactly what you need for your unique and growing family. That’s why their baby registry lets you add any item from any store. Even add cool services and favors like prenatal yoga, doula support, home-cooked meals or dog walking. Start your registry today to be eligible for a free Hello Baby Box of goodies for baby worth up to $190 while boxes last.